Safety devices for starter motors of internal-combustion engines

ABSTRACT

Safety device for preventing the actuation of an electric starter motor of an internal-combustion engine already running and providing a source of low pressure, this device comprising a key-operated safety-lock body, with or without a disc-shaped cam member for controlling an antitheft device and rigid with a member controlling the rotor of a rotary switch provided with terminal pins for connecting said switch to electric circuits to be controlled, including the energizing switch of said starter motor, wherein said lock body has formed therein a chamber connected to said source of low pressure of the engine and a member movable in said chamber and responsive on the one hand to the action of said low pressure and on the other hand to that of a resilient reaction member, said movable member being associated with said lock with a view to prevent said switch from closing the energizing circuit of said starter motor when the engine is running, and to permit the action of said switch with respect to said starter motor when the engine is inoperative.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul Lipschutz 2,223,097 1 l/l940Ehret 180/82 X Croissy-sur-Selne, France 2,286,921 6/1942 Morris 200/83H X 1 1 pp 6,716 FOREIGN PATENTS [221 Ned Jan-29,1970 838,668 5/1952Germany [45] Patented Nov.23, 1971 922 501 H1955 Germany [73] AssigneeSociete D'Exploitation Des Brevets Neiman I Neuilly.sur.seine ("ants deSeine) France Primary Examiner Robert Schaefer 2 priority Jan 30, 19 9Assistant ExaminerWilliam J. Smith [33] France Attorney-Stevens, Davis,Miller & Mosher [31] 6901858 ABSTRACT: Safety device for preventing theactuation of an 54 SAFETY V E FOR T T T S 1? electric starter motor ofan internal-combustion engine al- INTERNALCOMBUSTION ES ready runningand providing a source of low pressure, this 7 maimSBDrawina Fig5 devicecomprising a key-operated safety-lock body, with or U I without adisc-shaped cam member for controlling an antitheft Isl C I a r s 1 Hug.unbiluulzlln a l l 0/ DA200/83 H tary switch provided with terminal pinsfor connecting said [5 C Switch to electric circuits to be controlledincluding the ener Fleld 0 Search 44, switch of Said Starter moor,wherein Said lock has 8 340/64 180/82 formed therein a chamber connectedto said source of low pressure of the engine and a member movable insaid chamber [56] References Cited and responsive on the one hand to theaction of said low pres UNITED. STATES PATENTS sure and on the otherhand to that of a resilient reaction Re. 23,340 2/1951 Lincoln ZOO/83 HX b r, aid ovable member being associated with said 1,205,010 1 H1916Pearson 200/33 H X lock with a view to prevent said switch from closingthe ener- 1,542,051 6/1925 Gedney 130/82 X gizing circuit of saidstarter motor when the engine is running, 9 L 2/1935 H H ZOO/33 H and topermit the action of said switch with respect to said 2,143,104 1/1939Critchfield 200/83 H t ter motor when the engine is inoperativePAIENTEmuv 23 nan sum 2 .UF 2

SAFETY DEVICES FOR STARTER MOTORS OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Thisinvention relates to a safety device for preventing the actuation of astarter motor of an internal-combustion engine already in operation.

It is known that if the starter motor of a running intemalcombustionengine is actuated inadvertently serious damage may result to thestarter motor and its drive pinion, and also to the toothed ring on theperiphery of the engine flywheel.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a safety device sodesigned that it is not possible to energize the starter motor unlessthe internal-combustion engine is inoperative.

This device comprising in a body a key-operated safety lock with orwithout a cam controlling an antitheft device and incorporating meansfor controlling a rotary switch inserted in electric circuits to beclosed, inter alia the starter motor energizing circuit, ischaracterized in that the lock body comprises a chamber connected to asource of low pressure or suction such as the engine induction manifoldand a member movable in-said chamber and responsive on the one hand tosaid suction and on the other hand to the contrary force exerted by aresilient element, said member being so associated with said lock toprevent said switch from closing the starter-energizing circuit when theengine is running and said member is subjected to said suction, and topermit the operation of said starter switch only when the engine isinoperative.

When the engine is inoperative the pressure in the induction manifold orin the head of one of its volumetric chambers, for example a cylinder,is zero, so that the safety feature is inoperative and the starter canbe energized to start the engine.

When the engine is running, a suction is produced in the inductionmanifold which is capable of either operating a carburetor in the caseof a carburetion engine or ensuring a proper filling of the combustionchambers in the case of an injection engine. This suction is applied toa piston, a diaphragm or any other movable or deformable (flexible)member actuating in turn either a lock-forming mechanism to inhibit thestarter motor drive means, or a switch to open the electric energizingcircuit of the starter motor.

Reference will now be made to the attached drawing illustratingdiagrammatically different forms of embodiment of this invention, itbeing understood that these forms of embodiment are given by way ofexample only and that various modifications and variations may bebrought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. In the drawing:

FIG. I is an axial section showing a key switch provided with asteering-lock antitheft device and with the safety device of-thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line llII of FIG. 1;

F IG. 3 shows in elevational view of a modified form of embodiment,i.e., the central portion of the lock provided with the safety device ofthis invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the modified form of embodiment ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates in fragmentary plan view and sectional view anotherform of embodiment of this device;

FIG. 6 is a section showing a further form of embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of embodiment of the structure shownin FIG. 1, wherein a flexible diaphragm is used, and

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified construction of the device of FIG. 6, alsoincorporating a flexible diaphragm.

Referring first to FIGS. I and 2, it will be seen that the body orbarrel 1 enclosing a safety lock 2 is adapted to be actuated by means ofa key 3, The rotor or barrel of this lock 2 is adapted on the one handto rotate a cam member 4 of which the contour 5 is adapted to withdraw abolt 6 from this steering-locking position by engaging a radialprojection 7 rigid with said bolt, against-the resistance of a spring 8normally urging said bolt to its locking position. This locking systemhowever is no part of this invention and therefore it is shown indiagrammatic form only, since any other suitable keyoperated lock, withor without an antitheft device, may be used in the practical embodimentof the present invention.

On the other hand the lock 2 controls through a rod 9 the rotary switch10 of which the contact pins 11 of the fixed portion are connected tothe various electric circuits to be controlled (not shown), notably thecircuit for controlling the delivery of energizing current to thestarter motor of the engme.

The induction manifold of the internal-combustion engine (not shown) isconnected via a pipeline 12 and a duct 13 to a chamber 14 in which apiston 15 normally urged upwards by a gauged spring 16 is slidablyfitted. This piston 15 comprises an integral lateral or angle stud 17adapted to drop" into a groove 18 formed in said cam member 4. When thepiston 15 is responsive only to the gauged spring 26 its lateral stud 17does not engage the cam 5 and a fortiori the groove 18. Since the lockcan rotate without engaging any stop, the switch rotor 10 thereof can bepositioned to obtain any desired control action, including theenergization of the starter motor.

The mode of operation of this device is self-explanatory: after theengine has been started by turning the rotor of the lock-and-switch unitto the so-called Start" position, the bolt 6 being withdrawn from itslocking position by the cam face 5, a suction builds up in the inductionmanifold of the engine and this low pressure is transmitted via pipeline12 and duct 13 to chamber 14, whereby piston 15 is drawn to the bottomof the FIG. against the resistance of spring 16. During this movement,the lateral stud 17 of piston 15 drops into groove 18.

Under these conditions the properly calculated angular dimension of thisgroove 18, and the proper positioning thereof, permits limiting, by theengagement of said stud 17 against end radial walls of said groove 18,the permissible angular movement of the rotor of switch 10 to anydesired control position except the aforesaid Start position.

Thus, when the engine is running and the component elements of thedevice are in the positions just indicated, the starter motor cannot beoperated. On the other hand, if the engine stalled or was voluntarilystopped by opening the ignition circuit, the suction in the inductionmanifold is discontinued and as the piston 15 is now only responsive tothe force of spring 16 urging same upwards, it rises in chamber 24 andits stud 17 is extracted from groove 18 of cam 4, thus permitting thefree rotation of the lock rotor or barrel 2 and switch rotor 10 to anydesired position notably the ignition circuit -closing position and thestarter motor-energizing circuitclosing position.

According to a modified form of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4of the drawing the piston 15 and chamber 14 are not directed parallel tothe general center line of the device but at right angles thereto, inthe fashion of a worm drive. The groove 19of cam 4 has a partiallytoroidal configuration in this case. Thus, the piston 15 comprises acylindrical notch 20 permitting the free rotation of said cam. When asuction is applied to the piston 15 in the manner explained in theforegoing, this piston 15 is withdrawn and drops like a key into saidgroove 19, thus limiting the cam and switch rotation to a predeterminedangular value corresponding to the angular amplitude of the semitoroidalgroove 19.

FIG. 5 illustrates another modified form of embodiment of the deviceaccording to this invention, wherein the axis of chamber 14 and the axisof lock 2 are also at right angles to each other but in convergentrelationship. The piston 15 carries a finger l7 urged by spring means 16against the inner wall of an arcuate slot 21 formed in cam 4 to permitthe free movement of the contact member. HOwever, this arc uate slot 21formed in cam 4 comprises an internal notch 22 limiting the angularmovement of the device when the finger 17 engages this notch 22 as aconsequence of the suction applied to the piston 15 as explained in thepreceding cases, thus preventing the switch from being moved to theStart" position.

FIG. 6 illustrates another form of embodiment of the invention whereinthe retaining action is exerted directly against a switch contact.

The suction produced by the engine started a first time constantly urgesthe piston in the direction to compress a gauge spring 16. This piston,when so withdrawn, carries along one arm of a bellcrank lever 23 whichengages a notch formed to this end in piston 15 and has its other armprovided with a contact blade 24 connected to the pin 25 of rotaryswitch 10, i.e., the pin connected to the starter circuit. Thus, themovement of piston 15 in the lock body 26 (in the upward direction inthis example) causes the bellcrank lever 23 to pivot and thus move thecontact blade 24 away from the switch rotor; this movement prevents theactuation of the starter motor as long as the engine is running,according to the intended purpose.

1n the above-described devices the piston 15, instead of being directlyresponsive to the engine suction, may be operatively connected to thecentral portion of a disc-shaped resilient deformable diaphragm 27enclosed in a case 28 as illustrated in FIG. 7 constituting anapplication of this alternate form of embodiment to the device shown inFIG. 1.

The diaphragm case 28 is secured on one side to the lower portion ofbody 1 formed with a duct 13 (FIG. 1) and on the opposite side to apipeline 29 communicating with the engine suction. The diaphragm 27 isclamped between the pair of flanges 30 of a hub rigid with a rod 31locked at one end by a nut 32. This rod 31 is adapted to slide withinthe duct 13 of body 1 and has its opposite end screwed in a tapped hole33 of piston 15.

The diaphragm 27 distorted by the suction produced when the engine isstarted carries along'the piston 15 towards the case 28. When the engineis stopped the diaphragm 27 resumes its initial condition shown in FIG.7 and spring 16 moves the piston 15 back to its initial position.

In another form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 and constituting amodification of the structure shown in FIG. 6 the flexible diaphragm 27was distorted beforehand to obtain the shape illustrated in the FIG. andhas its central portion clamped by means of a nut 32 between acup-shaped member 34 and a hub 36 rigid with the rod 31 secured topiston 15. As in the preceding example the case 35 is secured on oneside to the body 26 and on the other side to a pipeline 29 connected tothe source of engine suction.

lf desired, the inherent resiliency of the diaphragm may be reinforcedby the spring 16 to assist in returning the piston 15 to its initialposition.

Of course, various modifications and variations may be brought to thespecific forms ofembodiment of the present invention which are shown anddescribed herein, without de parting from the scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety device for preventing energization of an electric startermotor of an internal-combustion engine which is already running andproviding a source of low pressure, the device comprising a body, akey-operated safety-lock member rotatably mounted in said body, switchmeans having a rotor adapted to close at least one electric circuitincluding an energizing circuit for said starter motor, said switchmeans being mounted in said body and connected to be rotated by saidsafety-lock member, a chamber in said body connected to said source oflow pressure, a piston member mounted in said chamber spring meansbiasing said piston member in said opposite direction, and means on saidpiston member to prevent rotation of said rotor when said piston memberis moved in said one direction thereby preventing closure of the circuitof said starter motor when the engine is running.

2. A safety device according to claim 1, further comprising a camintegral with said safety-lock member having a groove formed therein,said means on said piston comprising a stud adapted to move parallelwith the axis of rotation of said switch rotor and to drop in saidgroove when the piston moves in said one direction, said groove having alimiting contour against which said stud abuts to prevent said switchrotor from being rotated to a position in which the starter motor isenerized.

3. A safety device according to claim 2, wherein said piston has itsaxis disposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of said switchrotor, said piston being formed with two cylindrical end portions and anotched portion therebetween, further comprising a cam integral withsaid safety-lock member and having therein a toroidal groove engaged byone of the ends of said piston when the latter is moved by the engine insaid one direction so as to positive lock said cam against movement to astarter motor-energization position when the engine is running, saidnotched piston portion being aligned with the cam when the engine is notoperating thereby permitting free rotation of said rotor.

4. A safety device according to claim 2, further comprising a camintegral with said safety-lock member and having an arcuate groovetherein, said piston having its axis disposed at right angles to andconvergent with the axis of rotation of said switch rotor, said means onsaid piston comprising a finger rigid with said piston and adapted toengage said arcuate groove in said cam, an external notch in said grooveso disposed that said finger engages into said notch when said enginemoves said piston in said one direction and locks said cam againstrotation to a position for energizing said starter motor, said fingerbeing released from said notch when the engine stops to permit rotationof said switch rotorv 5. A safety device according to claim 2, whereinsaid piston has its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said switchrotor and has a notch therein, a pivotally mounted bellcrank leverhaving a first arm engaged in said notch to be driven by said pistonduring the movement thereof, and a second pivoting arm connected with amovable contact of said switch relied to the starter motor energizingcircuit, said movable contact being positively held out of contact withsaid switch rotor when the engine moves said piston in said onedirection thereby opening the starter motor circuit.

6. A safety device according to claim 1, further comprising a casehaving a chamber therein, a diaphragm mounted in said chamber, conduitmeans connecting said chamber to said internal-combustion engine so thatsaid diaphragm is displaced in response to the running of said engine,and means connecting said diaphragm to said piston whereby said pistonis moved in said one direction when said engine is running.

7. A safety device according to claim I, further comprising an antitheftdevice and means on said safety-lock member to control said antitheftdevice.

1. A safety device for preventing energization of an electric startermotor of an internal-combustion engine which is already running andproviding a source of low pressure, the device comprising a body, akey-operated safety-lock member rotatably mounted in said body, switchmeans having a rotor adapted to close at least one electric circuitincluding an energizing circuit for said starter motor, said switchmeans being mounted in said body and connected to be rotated by saidsafety-lock member, a chamber in said body connected to said source oflow pressure, a piston member mounted in said chamber for movement inone direction when the engine is operating and in response to said lowpressure and in the opposite direction when the engine is stopped,spring means biasing said piston member in said opposite direction, andmeans on said piston member to prevent rotation of said rotor when saidpiston member is moved in said one direction thereby preventing closureof the circuit of said starter motor when the engine is running.
 2. Asafety device according to claim 1, further comprising a cam integralwith said safety-lock member having a groove formed therein, said meanson said piston comprising a stud adapted to move parallel with the axisof rotation of said switch rotor and to drop in said groove when thepiston moves in said one direction, said groove having a limitingcontour against which said stud abuts to prevent said switch rotor frombeing rotated to a position in which the starter motor is energized. 3.A safety device according to claim 1, wherein said piston has its axisdisposed at right angles to the axis of rotation of said switch rotor,said piston being formed with two cylindrical end portions and a notchedportion therebetween, further comprising a cam integral with saidsafety-lock member and having therein a toroidal groove engaged by oneof the ends of said piston when the latter is moved by the engine insaid one direction so as to positively lock said cam against movement toa starter motor-energization position when the engine is running, saidnotched piston portion being aligned with the cam when the engine is notoperating thereby permitting free rotation of said rotor.
 4. A safetydevice according to claim 1, further comprising a cam integral with saidsafety-lock member and having an arcuate groove therein, said pistonhaving its axis disposed at right angles to and convergent with the axisof rotation of said switch rotor, said means on said piston comprising afinger rigid with said piston and adapted to engage said arcuate groovein said cam, an external notch in said groove so disposed that saidfinger engages into said notch when said engine moves said piston insaid one direction and locks said cam against rotation to a position forenergizing said starter motor, said finger being released from saidnotch when the engine stops to permit rotation of said switCh rotor. 5.A safety device according to claim 1, wherein said piston has its axisparallel to the axis of rotation of said switch rotor and has a notchtherein, a pivotally mounted bell-crank lever having a first arm engagedin said notch to be driven by said piston during the movement thereof,and a second pivoting arm connected with a movable contact of saidswitch relied to the starter motor energizing circuit, said movablecontact being positively held out of contact with said switch rotor whenthe engine moves said piston in said one direction thereby opening thestarter motor circuit.
 6. A safety device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a case having a chamber therein, a diaphragm mounted in saidchamber, conduit means connecting said chamber to saidinternal-combustion engine so that said diaphragm is displaced inresponse to the running of said engine, and means connecting saiddiaphragm to said piston whereby said piston is moved in said onedirection when said engine is running.
 7. A safety device according toclaim 1, further comprising an antitheft device and means on saidsafety-lock member to control said antitheft device.